Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew’s dilemma
Washington–I honestly don’t know the right answer to this health vs. momentum dilemma faced by L.D. There is some inherent contradiction in his declaration that health is most important and his desire to finish the season with momentum but, in my view at least, both have merit.
Several Hawks players are banged up and could probably use some rest but don’t they also have to stay in tune? The team hasn’t played well since February but, at this point, aren’t the Hawks as good as they are going to get and so the “fine tuning” L.D. is looking for is too little, too late?
You can sense that players also aren’t quite sure how to feel about the situation.
J.J. says health is the main concern but in the next breath he says he wants to get his game in gear. “My main concern right now is getting into some kind of rhythm going into the playoffs,” he said.
Al says it’s important for the Hawks to “get better as a team and keep up our shape” but then comes out of the equation favoring time off.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to that, just being honest,” he said. “But I think [L.D.] would rather have us play.”
Drew said he still doesn’t plan to sit any of his regulars. Instead, he’d like for the Hawks’ reserves to play well enough that the starters wouldn’t be required to play extended minutes.
“If I’ve got bench guys out there and they are in a real good rhythm I will leave the starters on the bench as long as I can,” he said. “If it’s not getting anywhere and we’re not playing well or we are not in a good rhythm, I don’t want to finish the season like that. I want to finish feeling good about how we play.”
Notes
- Al on the ankle: “It’s good. It’s as good as it’s been, so that’s good news. I am pretty much back to normal.”
- Joe on the thumb: “It’s all right. It’s never going to be 100 percent until the season is over but it’s nothing that is going to stop me from doing anything. I’ve just got to play through it.”
- Joe on the elbow: “It’s good as it’s going to get.” How good is that? “It’s pretty much 100 percent. It feels a little weak every now and then but it’s good.”
- Marvin on his back: “I feel pretty good. It gets sore at times.”
- JC2 and Mo visited with Hawks players and team personnel after they got up shots prior to the game.
- “It was good seeing them again,” Jordan said. “I was real close friends with them. It became like a family in the little time I was there. I expect to spend more time with them through the years. I talk to them all the time. They always congratulate me after every game.”
- Jordan on his feelings at the time of the trade: “I knew it was a business coming in. They wanted to try to make a playoff push. Now I am getting playing time. It was good for both of us.”
- With the Wizards, JC2 is averaging 33.2 minutes, 17.2 points and 16.6 shots. “You have got to play to get better,” he said. “Hopefully next year we win more games. That’s my goal.”
- Drew on JC2: “We are going to treat him like any other scorer. We have to be with him on the catch. We have to affect the pick-and-roll but more importantly keep him contained and not let him get it going.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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318 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
April 9th, 2011
11:01 pm
doc,
Good point about how the Wiz have fallen and how quick the Hawks might fall too.
We already have a bad contract, bad Chemistry, and we changed HC (which hasn’t worked). All we need is one big season-ending injury, and who knows…
AJ,
Exactly. If LD hasnt been able to get players to buy in when the games were important, what makes him think he will get players to buy in when the games are meaningless?
I dont think now is the time to be forcing them to play, so I think he should let them rest (especially Al, JJ, Josh and Twin).
bghawk
April 9th, 2011
11:02 pm
Woody or Drew??
bghawk
April 9th, 2011
11:02 pm
who would ya rather have?
Booo!
April 9th, 2011
11:05 pm
I would Start Teague, Pape, JJ, Smoove, and Horf
JJ needs to go back to his pheonix days as a spot-up shooter. Sy and Teague are good defenders who slash and draw fouls. It’s aout balance. All that (Jumpshooting)offense isnt needed in the starting lineup.
Nique can shut up! That was a good pass by Teague. Teage made the EXACT same play the next trip down and Pape went to the line! Didn’t hear a peep out of nique after that one though!
Fire LD!
Free The Teague!
Freee Pape Sy!
joe
April 9th, 2011
11:28 pm
LD overmatched, Hawks hired him because he was cheapest option. They are weak and it won’t get any better anytime soon.Contracts they can’t trade ( JJ, MW ). No light at the end of this tunnel. Out in 4 games in first round. MISERABLE !!!!!!!
mykhalc
April 9th, 2011
11:32 pm
tick…tick…tick…KA BOOM!!! in fact, self-combustion is already occurrin’ with this bunch of ‘ain’t got it…don’t want it…and ain’t tryin’ to find it’ non-professionals!!! from the top down…blow ‘em up PLEASE!!!
jgsbrids
April 9th, 2011
11:34 pm
no worries–we’ll just hit that playoffs switch!
what in the he** was that?
what a joke!
someone please show these guys how to box out. then tell them when a teammate shoots the ball go for the rebound–my goodness i stopped counting at 20 shots with no hawk even close to an offensive board…when i played the coach would pull someone for shooting the ball with no one underneath.
wow! drew just needs to re-sign–too bad they didn’t give kruger or stotts this long to figure things out–i can’t believe how bad this team is–and the worst part–they could care less.
Big Ray
April 10th, 2011
12:14 pm
Well, a 32 point loss means that the players outvoted LD as far as “rest vs. rhythm.”
Roach
April 10th, 2011
2:19 pm
What’s the over-under on average percent vacant seats for the Hawks’ two home playoff games? I think Vegas starts them at 25%, given the two embarrassing open losses in Orlando. Nothing to see here, folks–move along.
hawkfan335
April 10th, 2011
6:13 pm
I was reading the Peter Vecsey column in today’s NY paper and he said that if the Hawks have a disaster in the 1st round of the playoffs, Coach Drew could be gone. Any truth to this?
Hawk fan?
April 11th, 2011
11:48 am
I agree with Rusty…give Josh a break. Take a look at his stat sheet! When he plays he contributes across the board consistently and obviously the Hawks missed him in the past three games. He just gets no credit because he takes a few ill advised jumpers. Who doesn’t? Believe me, if they trade him this team is going nowhere faster!!! And Heinrich? Absolutely no chemistry with him on the floor. I still stick to my theory that we should have kept Bibby. At least he was a true floor general…getting the ball where the h#$! it needed to be and popping a three pointer when it was most needed. I see that the Heat have no problem utilizing him in that manner. As a matter of fact…lets go HEAT! lmao!
Grandad
April 11th, 2011
5:09 pm
http://www.youtube.com/user/EliteproNV
Grandad
April 11th, 2011
5:21 pm
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://vimeo.com/10890256&sa=X&ei=em6jTd_QMYnogQewysXkBQ&ved=0CEUQuAIwAg&usg=AFQjCNGGCa2ZILSyJVkIw1IvkBA-d2BHRQ
Grandad
April 11th, 2011
5:22 pm
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDIQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DsLRBajfq6xE&ei=DnGjTcu5FKaB0QG_pP2XBQ&usg=AFQjCNEuY1ta2gf5um9GDJ-ybqGnXI2IbQ
Vic in Florida
April 11th, 2011
10:06 pm
I think Larry Drew is the worse fit for a head coach for Atlanta, and I have been saying this since day one. The guy doesn’t have a clue of what to do with this team. I am a die hard Atlanta fan of all sports, and it drives me crazy to see this team taking steps backwards. There was a lot that I didn’t like about Woodson, but the club did better each year. Drew plays his bench in situations where his starters should be doing what they are paid for. I have watch too many games where the game would be close and he would have his bench on the floor until the lead was pushed to double figures. He consistantly runs plays for Josh Smith to shoot three point jumpers, when Josh should be somewhere closer to the basket to help with rebounding, and scoring inside. And tonight the bench did and awesome job erasing a huge lead by the Heat, but if Drew was trying to win that game and go into the playoffs with some kind of momentum, his big money players should have been in the game in the fourth quarter when the score was tied. Every game I am screaming at the television because I feel I can coach the Hawks better than him. If someone in that organization doesn’t sit down and get his head in the right place the Hawks are looking to be back as foot stools of the league. Can you people in Atlanta please put some heat on this guy so we can get some performance from our team, because we have a talented group. We should be playing better. Another thing, why in tha hell did Atlanta pay Joe Johnson all of that money after how he performed in the playoffs last year? If anything they should have given Jamal Crawford a raise and made him a starter. Joe, when are you gonna earn your money? I know that I am not the only one that is seeing this team falling apart. I cancelled my trip to Atlanta for the second Heat game(tonight’s game) because of the first game the Heat played in Atlanta. I didn’t expect Larry Drew to do anything different and the trip was not a cheap one, and wasn’t much fun with my Miami Heat fiance cheering in my ear the whole game. The Hawks have lost what?? their last three, and two were blowouts to teams we should be beating the breaks off. I hope something changes with his coaching philosophies before this weekend or the Orlando series will be short and very ugly one.
Vic in Florida
April 11th, 2011
10:12 pm
From the post above, trading Bibby was a good move because Kurt is three times the defender and can shoot the ball just as well. So I don’t have a problem with that.
nique
April 12th, 2011
6:31 pm
Can one of the AJC writers please do a story on Jordan Crawford’s success on the Wiz? Please? It would also be fun to compare his stats to Heinrich’s of course.
tanker
April 13th, 2011
1:25 pm
@ Wade, if D is bum that makes you DUMB for watching.
@ Darnell, can you do a better job, I DON’t think so. SO… SHUT IT UP!